October 2013: scans and starting to show!

[Umlauf]

Will this one take us through to the end of the first trimester? Will the sickness ever end? Will we be able to judge genders from those first scan pictures? These and many other mysteries to be solved in... THREAD 4

Loving the scan news everyone

Has anyone had any migraines since pregnant? Used to have them years ago, woke with the worst one this morning, couldn't feel half my face, then couldn't see out of one eye, then agony for hours, paracetamol didn't touch it! Any advice would be much appreciated x x x

Congrats to everyone who's had scans! Mine is on the 12th, it feels so far away. I'm dying to just tell everyone.

I'm planning to take maternity vitamins all the way through, and possibly afterwards as well. Ive been taking them for months while ttc so I'm used to them. The recs say you can stop folic acid at 12 weeks, but should take vitamin d all the way through. None of the vitamins in a maternity supplement do any harm if you keep taking them so why not? I'm also taking a maternity fish oil supplement, which can help with brain development, but evidence seems to focus on the third trimester. I keep them on my bedside table and take them before bed. This seems to be a good way to remember them, and they don't make me as sick if if I take them at night.

I'm losing track of all the scans now so congrats to everyone today in case I forget anyone!

Re. supplements and folic acid, I'm taking Pregnacare and will continue to do so after the 12 weeks. It just gives me peace of mind that if I'm failing in my diet anywhere, then at least I've got a buffer! Just check about Vitamin D - this is recommended too but not sure how long you need to take it.

Is anyone else finding it difficult to drink water at the moment? It really isn't appealing to me during nausea but I know I'm not getting enough fluids! My DH commented on it when I handed my urine sample over to the MW yesterday

I can manage orange juice, tart apple juice, Ribena, squash and fizzy drinks (which I never usually drink). But I'm worried about all the sugar I'm taking in (DH pointed out the other day that every glass of Ribena I have is 25% of my daily sugar allowance!). Any tips on what I could be drinking instead? (also I'm trying to avoid sweeteners!)

I'm feeling awful right now - all of the suppliments make me vomit, just like last pregnancy. Rubbish mummy :(

Ana what fish oil is it? I'm going to keep taking a multivitamin, but only asda own brand - £10 for 135 days worth!

Serious dilute fresh orange juice with sparkling water - very refreshing and good for you!

Tarlia have you tried taking them before going to sleep? I haven't felt ill with mine but have read others say it helps if you take them last thing at night.

Rock thanks for the tip (urgent call now to DH before he gets back from work!)

Serious: I really wouldn't worry about the sugar if you're feeling sick and having trouble drinking enough. You're probably not eating as much as usual, either, do the calories won't kill you. Just take good care if your teeth, and talk to your dietitian if you're diabetic. The main non-sugary, non-water drinks would be milk or hot drinks (although watch caffeine). You could also water down juice if you really wanted. Saying that though, most sweeteners, including the common ones in drinks, are safe for pregnancy.

Vitamin D is recommended throughout the whole pregnancy and bf. In the UK I think we should all be taking vitamin D and I plan to give it to my baby from birth. (Assuming I exclusively bf)

Congrats on all the scan news! Lovely!

Got my NT results letter today, 1:1798. Happy with that.

Rock chick: many pregnancy vitamin brands make a vitamin+fish oil supplement, incl pregnacare and boots own brand. I take efalex because they're the only ones that sell just the fish oil for pregnancy, and I'm using up a huge supply of boots conception vitamins I bought on a 3for2 deal (same as pregnancy ones, and same as other name brands). I took asda vitamins for a while but had boots points to use.

Look for at least 200mg of DHA, and be aware that the studies showed results if you have your weekly servings of oily fish plus the supplement, in third trimester. I'm hoping I'll be less sick and able to eat fish again by then. If you don't eat fish I think the supplement is a really good idea anyway.

I took just regular boots fish oil capsules for a few weeks, not aimed at pregnancy, but then had a bit of a freak out that they may contain fish liver oil which would have too much vitamin a. I don't think they did but the label wasn't clear enough for my liking. I eventually consoled myself by comparing labels and seeing that even if I had been taking pure cod liver oil capsules at that dosage the vitA content would have been only a bit above the upper limit for pregnancy. I was so freaked out at one point, it's one of the reasons I had an early private scan, not that a 9 week scan could have actually proven anything.

rockchick, that's almost exactly what I've been doing. Diluting half orange juice with half tap water. I don't feel too guilty about it because orange juice is (relatively) good for you!

congrats on all the scans! And amazing picture roofio! Did you opt for a nuchal? Mŷ scan pic is similar to yours but they couldn't get the right measurement for a nuchal cause they need the baby lying flat. I couldn't care less, just felt nice to see baby looking so cool and relaxed. Lol.

i found pregnacare and boots vitamins for mums to be made me sick. Now taking Sanatogen at night and while still a tiny bit nauseous (prob the pregnancy and not the vitamins) I have not really been sick since.

14 weeks today and if not for spd, I feel less tired and a lot better than first trimester. I saw private physio who recommended exercises but will see NHS physio next week and see who I like best!

Rachel I suffer migraines usually related to monthly cycles but have had a few bad ones since I got my BFP. No advice just paracetamol, rest and drink water to keep hydrated. Mine are worse when I am tired

Congrats to today's scan-ees.

I have also forgotten my vitamin twice since bfp and felt guilty about it because my diet has been really rubbish while we have building works done and can't use the kitchen, mostly carbs and fat. When I am being more reasonable I know a couple of weeks won't hurt, but after eating healthy organic food and taking conception vitamins for months before conceiving it does seem silly and neglectful to now be stuffing poor little bean with bread, crumpets, chips, curry and pizza now, especially when I forgt the tablets. I just had a lovely healthy stir fry with a big glass of orange juice and feel very good for it. I will carry on the vitamins for the whole pregnancy and I am taking fish oils as I am vegetarian and can't face taking up fish but want to give the baby the best possible start I can. (I know this makes me a bit of a hippocrite).

I got my booking and scan dates today, yay! 5th April booking at 11+0 weeks, scan on 17th April at 13+0 weeks. Later than the midwife said it would be, I presume because of Easter. So it won't be in the holidays after all and I will now have to tell my head teacher before the scan to arrange the time off, probably tomorrow as it is the last day of term. Eek!

My letter says to drink 5 cups of water before the scan! Gulp!

rachel I get really bad headaches/migraines and have never found paracetamol or ibuprofen to be effective enough (if they get really bad then I used to take co-codamol, but I know it's not good for you). My first appointment with the doctor after the BFP I had been getting really bad headaches and didn't know what I could take (obviously can't take co-codamol in pregnancy) so he prescribed me some codeine. I've only taken a few, but have tried my best to avoid them if I can. They seemed to work when I needed them though.

As for vitamins, I am taking pregnacare and will continue throughout the pregnancy. Like Seriousstuff said, I like to think of it as a buffer as my diet is pretty poor considering I seem to want carbs more than anything.

Scan day tomorrow motherofnations and cherry. I've never been so nervous in my whole life. I am really trying to think the worst, and desperately hoping that all is good! DH and I have both been in tears tonight talking about how we're going to tell our families over the weekend, all being well of course!

Thanks jelly and roxvox it was so bad I'm going to increase rest/fluids in the name of trying to avoid anymore (and might get some codeine for emergencies)

Jelly and Rachel I suffer from occasional migraines but similarly, they have increased since being pg. I find mine are worse when I haven't drunk enough water.

rachel I also suffer migraines even when not pregnant and have had a few size being pregnant I literally just take paracetamol and keep my eyes closed as much as possible and hope it hurries up and passes, for some reason I always seem to get them on a Friday, so weird lol.

Congrats to all those who had their scans today. Love seeing lots of good news :-). 11+0 today roll on 12 weeks xx

Yes Pinksky bf straight away each time

Myself dh dd and grand parents in law went out for dinner this eve and dd was so naughty crying jumping around refusing to eat etc I started crying at the table literally wanted to get up and walk out and probly would if I wasn't blocked In one one of those tables u have to slide across to sit down lol Aghhh time for one born every minute and sleep for me I think

Natalieand my scan is at 10.20 on 3 April as well!

I'm taking pregnacare, the one with the fish oils. I've heard Omega 3 are good for preventing stretch marks as well? I take them right before I go to sleep, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to handle them at any other time.

Hi Rachel - I've had 3 migraines in the past 3 weeks
Have also just been taking paracetamol but it doesn't touch it. On Monday I was sick straight after waking up and couldn't keep anything down. Only started to feel better after a few sips of lucozade and I put some of that 4head stuff on. Don't know if either of those helped clear it or it was just coincidence. Am avoiding codeine as dp read it can make you nauseous, which wouldn't help. Gutted I can't take imigran
Weird thing is that they disappeared when I was pg with dd.
Definitely think that lack of sleep and being dehydrated are factors in getting them (and tense shoulders).
Hope you find something that helps.

Rachel I get migraines too and spent most of Sunday sleeping off a bad one. Paracetamol just really takes the edge off. With my first pregnancy I was offered propranolol by my obstetrician to try and prevent them, but decided against it as I wasn't getting them that frequently. Definitely triggered by lack of sleep, fluid and food for me. But if you're having a lot it might be an option.

Had my booking appointment today. Mad dash to get there on time and as soon as I walked in to the packed waiting room realised I shouldn't have bothered! Eventually got called in to see the midwife 2&1/2 hours after my appointment time! Can anyone beat that?

They were very nice when I got in, they said it's usually not quite that bad, but was cursing myself for forgetting to bring a book and the phone reception was rubbish, so I couldn't even mumsnet!

Congatulations to the ladies who had scans today. Only 12 more days til mine. :)

moonblues I came off propranolol in December before TTC as, after a discussion about mine and DH's TTC plans, my doctor told me I'd need to come off it in the third trimester as it can cause limb deformities in babies. I decided to cut the risk and come off it sooner.

Also, 2 1/2 hours waiting for an appointment has to be a record moonblues!

I've had a trim up tonight just in case they need to use the dildo cam tomorrow. Bit worried that I am over prepared. I failed every driving test that I over prepared for. Hopefully I am just being ridiculous

roxvox cherry had her scan today. I was getting confused cos I've been thinking all week that tomorrow is the 27th
I've been feeling ill since yesterday and having bad stomach cramps. Too high up to be a problem with the pregnancy so I think its just ibs. I'm so excited. I think we're taking youngest dd with us for the scan as my sister didn't take my hints about babysitting.